Hey, Hahmburgers. Soooo, Chapter 28 is still a work in progress, and the section I'm currently writing is pretty deep and heavy. It won't be too long now until it's complete, but I thought I'd surprise you by splitting it into two parts. So, here's the first section. Enjoy :D

***

Taehyung's leather shoe bobbed over his right knee as he read over the business details relating to the House of Cards.

The company information accessible to the public provided him with specifics on the property such as the registered address and date of incorporation.

Further data - emailed to him within the hour after a dose of unpleasant persuasion - offered him an insight into the confidential aspects of the club. Employee lists, payroll details and mortgage chart data, for example.

Aside from the staff and date of purchase, everything was identical. The transition of ownership would be smooth. All he required now was a chat with Park Jimin's solicitor.

An effortless unearth, Taehyung mused as he noted Bu Hwan's location.

The legal consultant would be saddened to learn that his trusted client of eight years had tricked him into believing the club belonged to him when it legitimately belonged to another. And if the man didn't believe what was right in front of him, well, resistance was easily remedied with the promise of meeting one's maker.

Satisfied that everything was on track, Taehyung slipped his phone into the inner pocket of his tailored blazer. He was acutely aware of the time, but flipped his wrist and checked his watch for dramatic effect before eyeing the clock on the reception wall.

6:10PM

Tsk. Less than an hour until the bank closed, and the idiot clerk was running ten minutes late for their appointment. There were other affairs to manage before nightfall, an aluminium prison to purchase, a drop in at Graff to select a special gift for his finest jewel.

Hahm Yunhee.

Even if he wanted to, Taehyung was unable to banish the woman from his mind. It was bordering on manic the way she possessed his every thought, the way she forever lingered. Taunting him when he awoke, teasing him while he drove, biting her lip while she waited with him at the bank.

Taehyung relished in Yunhee's presence day and night. The impertinent little madam was a constant distraction, yet a reminder that he would soon reap what he sowed.

'Mr. Kim?' Taehyung's view was obscured by a short, balding man holding his hand out in greeting. 'I'm terribly sorry to have kept you waiting, sir.'

Ah, the belated bank clerk.

Ignoring the stubby fingers of his extended hand, Taehyung nonchalantly picked up his briefcase and rose from his chair to tower over him.

'Not at all, Mr-' His eyes briefly clocked the gold badge pinned to his lapel before he sent him an alluring grin. 'Gi.'

'If you would like to follow me, Mr. Kim.'

The clerk bowed before leading the way through the refreshingly open space exhibiting large windows and a clean interior design. It was a modern bank, antique fittings replaced with funky tablet stations and trendy nooks that were not to Taehyung's liking.

Alas, he was here to start an enterprise, not grimace over distasteful furnishings.

'How is your day so far, Mr. Kim?' the clerk asked as he ushered Taehyung over to a curved white executive table.

'Testing,' he replied caustically.

Mr. Gi beamed, the sarcasm lost on him as he shuffled behind his desk holding a single monitor and motioned for Taehyung to sit. 'I understand. My job is rewarding, but I look forward to returning home to my wife every day.'

'Of course,' Taehyung's smile was tight as he took a seat and tucked his briefcase between his feet.

He was not one for chit-chat, and it was easy to flip the switch to drown out the mindless conversation when necessary, but when he saw the chatty man subtly inspecting the bare finger on his left hand, he knew what was coming.

'Do you have a wife, Mr. Kim?' the clerk offhandedly questioned as he opened a drawer to retrieve a notebook and fountain pen.

'No,' Taehyung responded blankly, his shoes squeaking along the skin of his briefcase.

'Ah, a girlfriend then?'

Heavens, what an inquisitive chap Mr. Gi was. Taehyung wondered how inquisitive he would be buried alive inside a coffin with a gag stuffed halfway down his oesophagus.

'Come now, a handsome bloke such as yourself must have a beautiful woman at home.'

'She's yet to move in.' Taehyung smirked with a delicate tilt of his head. 'Shall we get down to business?' Before I hunt down your beloved and see how much she's worth?

'Of course,' Mr. Gi blustered, linking his fingers over his notepad with a professional smile. 'How may I be of service today, Mr. Kim?'

'I'd like to make a deposit.'

'Certainly.' the clerk's pupils dilated a fraction. 'And how much would you like to deposit?'

Not breaking his cool, Taehyung recovered his briefcase and slapped it onto the desk so that several pieces of paper wafted to the tiled floor. Flicking the gold catches, he opened the lid, spun it around, and boldly slid his nest egg across the shiny surface.

'Fifteen billion won.'

Mr. Gi's Adam's apple bobbed above his windpipe, a gleam of sweat coating his pale skin as he inexplicably eyed the crisp notes stacked inside the leather case.

'R-right away, sir,' he stammered, shutting the money from view before withdrawing a wireless keyboard from a drawer. 'Do you have your account number to hand?'

'Five, zero, six. Eight, zero, four. Eight, nine, two. Seven, one, three.' Taehyung sucked his lip between his teeth and squinted speculatively at the silvery ceiling. He hoped he'd memorised that correctly from his doppelgänger's bank statement. 'Hmm, I'm rather forgetful with numbers. Was that twelve digits?'

'It was, sir,' Mr. Gi acknowledged with a patronising smile as he accessed the account. 'And lastly, do you have your identification- oh, wonderful!' he exclaimed as Taehyung procured his passport and handed it over. 'If you will just bear with me a moment while I run a few security checks.'

'Of course,' Taehyung crooned, confidently reclining in his chair while he waited for his proof of identity to be processed.

There was little to worry about; it could not be disputed.

Mr. Gi entered his personal details into the system, his eyelids narrowing a smidge as he glanced between the photograph and his lounging client. After a few swift taps on the keyboard, the clerk appeared satisfied and returned the passport.

'Changed your colour, I see?'

'Indeed,' Taehyung replied as he slid his identity back into his pocket. 'What do you think, though? Does my complexion look better with lighter hair, or darker hair?'

Mr. Gi picked up his telephone to make a call, but stalled at the question, his hesitant eyes travelling over Taehyung's wavy, raven locks. 'I...well, it's not my business to comment, Mr. Kim...'

And yet you ask if I have a wife.

'Go on,' he urged with a beguiling box grin, 'lighter or darker?'

'Lighter, sir,' the clerk replied while hooking the receiver between his ear and shoulder.

With a serious visage, he requested for the briefcase to be securely transported to the vault before ending the call and focusing on his computer.

'I'm crediting your account with the amount of fifteen billion won, Mr. Kim. The funds will be available with immediate effect.'

'Thank you, Mr. Gi, and I appreciate your honesty on my appearance,' Taehyung said as he leaned forward in his seat.

The money was useless without a bank card, but emotional manipulation was a close ally always ready to slither from his tongue.

'I was hoping to buy my girlfriend a gift for our first anniversary, but I appear to have misplaced my card. How soon are you able to issue a new one?'

'Such a nuisance when that happens.' Mr. Gi's opinion was unwelcome, but there was a hint of sympathy swimming in his eyes as he regarded Taehyung across the desk. 'I can cancel your current card and issue you a priority card right away, if it pleases you?'

'It does,' Taehyung leered with a slow and purposeful nod. 'Yunhee will be over the moon.'

'Ah, Yunhee. What a lovely name!' Mr. Gi chimed as he processed his patron's latest request. 'What's it to be? Flowers? Chocolates?'

'A necklace. Encased in rubies,' Taehyung retorted in a deadpan tone. 'My lady looks delectable in red.'

Mr. Gi's lashes flitted in astonishment as he stared at the briefcase, but then it was being removed from the table and handcuffed to the wrist of the cash handler who'd come to collect it.

'What an extremely lucky woman she is,' the clerk commented after clearing his throat and resuming his task. 'Is there anything else I can help you with today, Mr. Kim?'

'No,' Taehyung said candidly, 'I just need that card.'

'I'm processing it as we speak,' Mr. Gi said hurriedly. 'It'll be available to pick up at reception on your way out. You'll just need to show your identification again. May I ask that you return tomorrow to pick up your briefcase-'

'Consider it a gift for your excellent service,' Taehyung sniffed as he pushed back his chair and rose to his feet.

'Why, thank you, sir!' Mr. Gi bumbled as he scrambled to stand up. 'And may I say that a ruby necklace is an excellent choice for a woman. Perfect, in fact.'

'Yunhee is precious and deserves nothing less,' Taehyung purred as he forced a polite bow. 'Enjoy your evening with your wife.'

Before Mr. Gi could lasso him into further conversation, Taehyung retreated to the reception and caught the eye of the pretty administrator who'd been unable to take her eyes off him while waiting earlier.

A dashing smile coupled with one or two playful compliments, and he was walking back to his DB5 in less than ten minutes, scanning the brand-new bank card in his hand as he made a call to a cargo company in Incheon.

Titan was legendary for its customer service, and the advisor assured him that his latest purchase - container TCIU-802091-2 - would be ready to access at the port in Area 6 within two hours. Better yet, the transaction would show on his online statement immediately.

Taehyung simpered, self-congratulating himself as he climbed into his car.

The "unidentified" activity would throw Tae out of sorts, but he intended to use it to his advantage later down the line.

Starting the engine, Taehyung allowed the old car a few minutes to heat up while browsing through his unread mail. Verification emails confirming registered accounts, a receipt for his recent investment, along with correspondence from an overseas firm convincing him to participate in stock trades.

'Scamming bastards,' Taehyung muttered, vehemently swiping the email out of his inbox as another unread communication emerged at the top. His hooded lids shaded his irises and a shot of suspense buzzed through his veins as he read the subject.

JEBU-RI ISLAND

So, Hoseok had found the time to provide him with an update. The email was brief, but it seemed his comrade had not long since reached his destination. Kim Seokjin was also on the scene, and the real Hobi happened to know everything about the vortex.

"Oh, and Hahm's avoiding Tae like a disease because of what you did to her."

Taehyung's fingers tightened around his phone, his nostril's flaring in repugnance as he stared at the condensation-covered windscreen.

It would take quite a bit of willpower not to drive out to the secluded spot tonight and drown Hoseok in the sea for his disrespect, but it was imperative that he not disrupt their social retreat.

Imprisoning Hobi at the docks would have to satisfy his thirst for punishment for the time being. As for his friends, they would soon notice his absence, but it would be a while before they learned that he was "keeping Yunhee company" at the beach house if she wasn't speaking to them.

Tae, Suga and Jungkook could search all they wanted.

It would be futile.

Pocketing his phone, Taehyung cleared the remains of the mist from his windshield and navigated the Aston Martin through rush hour traffic towards the jewellers.

Hoseok had successfully planted himself in Yunhee's life without arousing suspicion. He didn't like it, but it was a necessary evil, especially after learning that she'd fled to the island to eschew her old flame.

The woman was fighting a fire that roared between them, a blaze that could not be extinguished.

The doubts clouding her judgement, however, could.

Mr. Gi was right; the ruby necklace was perfect, and it was only the tip of the iceberg of never-ending devotion he yearned to show her.

Yunhee would yield, and she'd soon be pining for him because Taehyung would alter her warped perception if it were the last thing he ever did.

***

6th February 2021